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Monday, April 09, 2012

Same-Sex Couple Fights for Right to Divorce in Maryland

A same-sex couple in Maryland is taking their fight for the right to divorce to the State Supreme Court. The couple fulfills every requirement to get a divorce in the state of Maryland. But since they are both women, a judge has refused to acknowledge their marriage and consequently has refused to grant their divorce.

The couple got married four years ago in California when same-sex marriages were still legal in the state. They have since moved to Maryland and created a life there. After four years of marriage, the two women have accepted the reality that they want different things out of life and have opted to file for divorce. However, the judge refused to recognize the divorce because he doesn’t consider their marriage to be legal: “To recognize the marriage would be contrary to the public policy of Maryland.”

It seems like the same-sex couple has the law on their side. There have been at least four other same-sex couples who were married in other states and granted a divorce in Maryland. In addition, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed the Marriage Equality Act last month, which should ultimately pave the way for same-sex marriages to become legal in Maryland.

It may take several months for the appellate judges to rule on this case. Hopefully, they will make the right decision and allow two women who no longer want to be married to go their separate ways. This case is just another example of why it is crucial that all states legalize same-sex marriages as soon as possible. To deny people this basic right is simply unacceptable in this day and age.

 
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